Curtain stretcher



March l1, 1952 F. R. RUBY CURTAIN STRETCHER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26. 1946 FOREST RUBY March l1, 1952 F. R. RUBY CURTAIN STRETCHER 4 Sheets-Sheeit 5 Filed Aug. 26. 1946 March 1l, 1952 F. R. RUBY 2,588,561

CURTAIN sTRETcHER Filed Aug. 26, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @3M @WML-@MM Patented Mar. 11, V1952 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE y CURTAIN STRETCHER Forest R. Ruby, Detroit, Mich.

Application August 26, 1946, Serial No. 693,133 1 claim.y '(ol. 45-24) This invention relates to apparatus for stretching and drying fabrics, such for example, as curtains.

The invention has as its'general object to provide fabric stretching apparatus composed of a frame having a relatively few simple parts capable of being economically manufactured, assembled-and disassembled. i

It is a more specic'object of this invention to adjustably support end and side bars or rails on the frame in a manner which enables the user to readily alter the effective area of the frame to accommodate fabrics of many different sizes.`

-Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus wherein the fabric is readily attached by .pins anchored in recessesformed in thefront surfaces of the frame members and bars along one longitudinal edge thereof and having `a length equal to or less than the depth of the recesses. Thus the pointed ends of the pins are shielded by the front surfaces of the frame members and are prevented from interfering with sliding movement of the bars relative to the frame members. l

Still another object of. this invention is to detachably and slidably secure the bars or rails to the frameinembers by brackets capable of being. readilymanipulated without the assistance of tools or other Iimplements to attach and de. tach, the adjacent .rails or bars from their respective frame members.

A further object or thisfmvention is to pr,

vide means o n therespectivebrackets for latchinglthebars or rails in their selected adjusted positions relative to the frame members.

v.The foregoing as well as other objects willbe made more apparent as vthis description pro ceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of stretching' apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention;

j 'Fig'ure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of Figure 5V is a sectional view taken on the line 5'-5of Figure 1; v

"Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

--Figure 7 isa fragmentary front elevational viewfofpnepf the framefmembers;

.Figure is a side elevational view of the sup` porting means showing the position; Figure 9 is a perspective view of the attaching bracket;

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view taken sub stantially on the line IIJ--IIJ of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a rear fragmentary elevational View partly in section of the construction shown in Figure 3; and Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view show-V ing the means for removably securing one of the frame members and adjustable end bar of the apparatus. The apparatus forming the subject matterof this invention is indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings by the reference character I5 and isv for the purpose of supporting curtains or equivalent fabrics in a stretched condition during dry-- ing. As will be more fully hereinafter under-` stood, the apparatus is adjustable to enableeifeV tively stretching fabrics or curtains of various:- different sizes. i' The apparatus I5 comprises a frame lI6 having.A horizontal side frame members Il and I8`andy having vertical end frame members I9 and 20.. In use the side frame member I'I forms the top of the frame and the frame member I8 forms' the bottom of the frame. The extremities of the side frame members are respectively detachably connected to the ends of the Vvertical frame members by quickly detachably fastenerA elements 2I, which may be in the form of bolts having'the' usual thumb nuts securedthereto at the rear. side of the frame. In the present instance the frame' is held in its rectangular shape by a bracev 223: having one end pivoted to the frame member 2i)A by a pin 23 Iand havingthe opposite end securedA to the top frame member I1 by a fastener element'- 24. As shown in Figure 10 of the drawings, the. fastener element 24 is similar to the fastener elements 2| in that it comprises a bolt 25 and a wing nut 26.` Thus the brace 22 may be readily secured; to and removed from the top frame member I1.: The frame I8 is further braced by a vertical frame bar 21 similar to the end frame members iandf having the oppositeends quickly detachably con--V nected to the top and bottom frame members Vinlatter in a different;

termediate the ends of the latter by fastener. eleelements 24 previously described. 5'

ments 28, which may be the same as the fastener In use the frame may be supported in a.' sub--` stantially vertical position by means of a pair of foldable braces 29 attached to the end frame' members I9 and 20 respectively.` One of thei-v braces is shown in VFigures'4 and 8 `of thed'raw-" ings and comprises a leg 3U pivoted at the upper end to a bracket 3| by means of a pin 32, The bracket 3| is secured to the rear side of one of the vertical end frame members adjacent the top of the latter, and the leg is of sufficient length to support the frame I6 in a substantially vertical position on the ground or other supporting surface. The leg 3D is held in its frame supporting position by means of a link 32 having one end pivoted to the outer edge of one of the vertical frame members by a pin 33 and having a hook 34 at the free end for engaging over a headed pin 35 projecting from the adjacent side of the leg 30. The construction is such that the links 32 at opposite ends of the frame may be readily disengaged from their respective supporting legs 30 to permit the latter to be swung to the broken line position shown in Figure 4. In this broken line or inoperative position of the legs 3u, the latter lie immediately adjacent the rear surfaces of the vertical end frame members and are held in this inoperative position by the links 32. As shown particularly in Figure 8 of the drawings, the links 32 are formed with slots 36 intermediate the ends thereof, and the slots are open at the bottom edge of the links to enable the headed pins 35 to enter theA slots. Thus the legs 30 are held in their inoperative positions immediately adjacent the rear sides of the vertical end frame members when not in use.

Supported on the frame I6 for vertical sliding movement between the top and bottom frame members is a side bar 31. The side bar 31 is formed of two sections secured together in endto-end relationship by a bracket 38 and having a combined length approximating the length of the top and bottom frame members. The adjustable side bar 31 is slidably supported on each of the vertical members I9, 26 and 21 by a bracket 38. Inasmuch as all three brackets are identical in construction, the following description will be confined to the bracket associated with the vertical end frame member |9. As shown in the several figures of the drawings, the bracket 38 comprises a base portion 39, having flanges 40 projecting laterally from opposite side edges and spaced suihciently from each other to sldably receive therebetween the vertical end frame member I9. The base portion 39 is formed with a pair of lugs 4| apertured to receive fastener elements 42 for securing the bracket to the slidable side bar 31.

The bracket 38 is held in assembled relation with the vertical frame member I9 by means of a substantially U-shaped spring Wire clip 42 having the base portion 43 hinged to the free edge of one of the flanges 40 and having the leg portions 44 extending toward the other' ange 40 across the rear face of the vertical frame member I6. As shown particularly in Figure 5 of the drawings, the free edge portion of the latter fiange 40 is formed with a slot 45 having an entrant opening 46 for the reception of the leg portions 44. The normal distance between the free ends of the leg portions 44 is substantially greater than the length ofV the slot 45, requiring the leg portions to be pressed together in order to enable the same to be inserted through the opening 46 into the slot 45. As soon as the leg portions are released, the same engage opposite end walls of the slot and are held under tension against these walls. Thus the clips serve to slidably secure the bracket on the vertical end frame member 29. If desired, suitable recesses 48 may be provided at opposite ends of the slot 45 for re- 4 spectively receiving the free end portions of the legs 44 and thereby prevent accidental disengagement of the leg portions from the slot,

As shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, a lug 49 is struck outwardly from each of the flanges 40 on the bracket and are bent to project laterally from the base 39 in a direction opposite the direction of the flanges 40. The lugs are formed with aligned openings 5d and a shaft 5| is rotatably supported by the lugs 49. The shaft 5| extends for substantially the full length of the slidable bar 31 and comprises two aligned sections 52 and 53. The adjacent ends of the sections are polygonally shaped in cross section and are joined together by a coupling 54 of corresponding cross sectional area. The coupling 54 is shown in Figure ll as pinned to the inner end of the shaft section 53 and as telescopically engaging the adjacent endof the shaft section 52. The shaft 5| is supported intermediate the ends from the bracket 38' by means of a hanger. 55 having a ange 56 secured to the bracket 38' and having a flange 51 apertured for receiving the shaft section 53. As shown in Figure 1l of the drawings, the flange 55 is positioned adjacent the coupling 54 for engagement by the latter to prevent shifting movement of the shaft 5| in one direction relative to the slide bar 31. In this connection it will be noted that the bracket 38' is fixed to the inner end of one section of the bar 31 by fasteners 54' and is detacnably secured to the adjacent end of the other section of the bar 31 by means of fastener elements having bolts 58 and Wing nuts 59. The above arrangement is such that the slide bar 31 and the shaft 5| may be removed in sections when dismantling the apparatus.

Secured to the shaft 5| opposite the base portion 39 of each bracket 38 is a pinion 60. The pinions 6|) project through slots 6| formed in the base portion 39 of the brackets and respectively mesh with racks 62. The racks 62 are respectively secured in grooves 63 formed in the front faces of the vertical members I9, 20 and 21. The grooves .62 and accordingly the racks extend for substantially the full length of the members |9, 29 and 21. As shown particularly in Figure 5 of the drawings, the racks 62 are in the form of a corrugated strip of metal and the pinions 60 mesh with the corrugations, so that rotation of the shaft 5| in opposite directions alternately moves the slide bar 31 upwardly and downwardly. The shaft is rotated by a crank 64 formed integral with the end of the shaft adjacent the frame member I9.

It follows from the foregoing that the slide bar 31 may be adjusted within close limits to preselected positions and provision is madel herein for securing .the slide bar 31 in any one of its numerous adjusted positions. As shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, a channel-shaped finger 65 is pivotedat one end to the slide bar 31 adjacent the vertical end frame member IS by one Vof the fastener elements 42 previously described as securing the adjacent bracket 38 tothe slide bar. The finger 65Y is formed with an. elongated slot 66 in the base portion thereof, and the shaft 5| projects through this slot. A nut 61 is secured to the shaft 5| and is adapted to be received in the slot 66 upon swinging movement of the finger 65 to its operative position, When in the latter position, the opposite side Walls of the slot engage the adjacent opposite sides of the nut 91 and thereby prevent rotation of the shaft 5l or, in other words, secures the slide bar 31 in its selected position.

Cooperating with the side slide bar 31 is a vertical end slide bar having a length approximating the length of the end frame members I9 and 20. The bar 10 is slidably supported at its opposite ends on the top and bottom frame members between the end frame member I9 and the vertical frame bar 21. The slidable connection between the opposite ends of the bar 10 and the top and bottom frame members is effected by brackets identical to the brackets 38. Therefore, the above detail description of the brackets 38 will suiice for the brackets associated with the slide bar 10, and corresponding parts of these brackets are indicated by the same reference characters. It will suiice to point out that the slide bar 10 is moved lengthwise of the top and bottom frame members by a shaft 1I journalled in the lugs 49 of the brackets 38 and having a crank 12 at one end thereof to enable readily rotating thesame. A pair of pinions 13 are secured to the shaft 1|, and these pinions respectively mesh with racks 14 in the form of corrugated strips similar to the strips 62. racks 14 are, in turn, respectively secured in grooves 15 formed in the rear sides of the top and bottom frame members I1 and I8. Thus the slidable end bar 10 cooperates with the slidable side bar 31 to define areas within the frame I6 of different sizes determined in dependence upon the size of the curtain for fabric to be accommodated. The slidable end bar 10 is held in any one of its various adjusted positions in the same manner previously described in connection with the adjustable bar 31. As shown in Figure l2 of the drawings, a channel-shaped finger 16 is pivoted to the upper end of the bar 10 and is formed with an elongated slot 11 in the base portion thereof for receiving the polygonally shaped nut 18 on the shaft 1|. When the iinger 16 is in its full line position shown in Figure 12, the nut 18 is received in the slot 11 and rotation of the shaft 1I is prevented. However, when the nger 16 is swung to its broken line position shown in Figure 12 of the drawings, the opposite sides of the slot 11 are disengaged from the nut 18 and rotation of the shaft is permitted.

It will be noted from the several figures of the drawings that each of the frame members and slide bars is formed with a recess 80 in the' front face thereof. The recesses 80 extend for substantially the full length of the frame members and side bars and pins 8| are secured to the base portions of the recesses. The Vpins are spaced from each other longitudinally of the recesses and the length of the pins does not exceed the depth of the recesses. Thus the pointed ends of the pins on the frame members are prevented from interfering with the adjustable bars. It will also be noted from Figure l of the drawings that each of the frame members and slide bars may be calibrated in inches if desired to assist the user in stretching the fabrics or curtains to the required size.

What I claim as my invention is:

Apparatus for stretching fabrics comprising pairs of side and end members secured together at their extremities to form a frame with the members of one pair overlapping those of the other, said members having longitudinal grooves therein with the grooves -of the rear pair in the front faces thereof and those of the front pair in their rear faces, a rack secured vwithin the grooves of each member and extending for substantially the full length of the latter, a side bar extending transversely of the end frame members and slidably supported thereon, a shaft rotatably sunported on the side bar and extending lengthwise of the latter, pinions secured to said shaft and respectively meshing with the teeth of the racks secured to the end frame members, an end bar extending at right angles to the side bar and supported on the side frame members for sliding movement lengthwise of the latter, a shaft rotatably supported on the end bar and extending longitudinally of the latter, and a pair of pinions iixed on the second shaft respectively meshing with the teeth of the racks secured to the side frame members. Y

FOREST R. RUBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10,973 Mansure May 23, 1854 657,809 Beebe Sept. 11, 1900 1,235,414 Baker July 31, 1917 1,311,653 Koepp July 29, 1919 1,578,550 Schramm Mar. 30, 1926 1,770,553 Schramm July 15, 1930 1,974,748 Luecke Sept. 25, 1934 v2,242,386 Block et a1. May 20, 1941 

